Tempt Me

“Thank you.” She walked very quickly in the direction he pointed and found the bathroom door closed. She heard someone moving around inside, so she leaned against the wall to wait.

She breathed in deeply, counting in and out, forcing herself to concentrate on anything other than throwing up or the very real possibility that she might be pregnant. Or what she would do if she was.

Suddenly the sound of male voices reached her from the room right next to where she stood. She glanced in that direction. The door was open but she couldn’t see inside, but she recognized the voices.

“And I’m wondering what’s going on with you and Mia,” Ben asked.

A pause and then, “If I was going to get serious about anyone, it would be Mia. But…” Austin trailed off.

Mia’s stomach cramped, which was not good for her current situation. As wrong as it was, she stood rooted to the spot, listening.

“You’re still fighting the inevitable. I remember those days well. I got it,” Ben said.

Mia held her breath.

“I can’t let myself get serious again. I can’t risk Bailey getting attached and me deciding it’s not working out.”

“You’re certainly very protective of Mia, considering you brought her here when you could have just had someone watch the house.” Another pause and then Ben went on. “I’m telling you, all the fighting you are doing with yourself? It’s not worth it. You could have a real family, you know?”

“I’ve done the family thing once, Ben. Not doing it again.”

Now her stomach lurched and luckily the bathroom door opened. Ava Talbott walked out. “Hi, Mia.”

“Hi. Excuse me.” She made a beeline around the other woman and ran into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Long after she’d thrown up and cleaned up, she remained in the bathroom… heart pounding, head throbbing, and heart hurting at Austin’s words.

I’ve done the family thing once, Ben. Not doing it again.

Clearly she had a lot of thinking to do. Of course, she had to be certain before she could make decisions. And to do that, she needed a pregnancy test. Austin hadn’t let her out of his sight but she did have an idea to get one.

She calmed down, patted her cheeks for color, and walked out of the bathroom.

They didn’t stay at the party long. Austin took one look at her and knew she had gotten sick again. He was obviously used to her just-vomited look.

Once they were in the car, she turned his way. “I’m really sorry. I could have stayed.”

He shook his head. “I’d rather you rest. You have a busy week coming up.”

She nodded. “Can I ask a favor? Can we stop by a drugstore on the way home?” She placed her hand over her purse in her lap.

“Sure. I’ll run in for you.”

She shook her head, having anticipated this gesture. “It’s okay. It’s, umm… that time of the month and I need a few things.”

“Got it,” he said with a grin.

Half an hour later, she ran into the drugstore by herself, took care of the things she needed, and returned to the car.

“Got everything?” he asked when she let herself back inside.

“Yes. Thank you,” she said, shaking the plastic bag full of sanitary napkins and tampons she more than likely didn’t need.

Unless the two pregnancy tests tucked safely in her purse showed she was panicking for no good reason.

* * *

Mia decided to take the tests separately. She didn’t know why or what good it would do but she’d convinced herself two separate urine streams would yield the right results. It didn’t matter that she was being completely irrational. The fact was, she’d slept with Austin the first time over a month ago, and though they’d used protection, it did have a fail rate. She could very well be pregnant.

She watched the first stick, waiting endlessly… then finally turned away. A watched pot and all that. She paced the bathroom, which was all of a few steps in one direction, another few in the other, rubbing her arms with her hands. This time her stomach churning had everything to do with nerves.

Knowing enough time had passed, she turned around and glanced at the stick on the counter and her knees buckled at what she saw. Apparently no matter how much you prepared yourself, finding out you were pregnant by a man who didn’t want forever with you was a punch of gut-wrenching reality.

She lowered herself onto the closed toilet seat and put her head in her hands. “Okay, okay, think,” she said to herself.

First, she had to testify. She had to put that mess behind her. Austin would protect her and she’d get through that this week. Then, before he brought Bailey home, she’d tell him that she was pregnant.